For instance, for several years, I reluctantly led Bible classes. Like Moses, my speech is hesitant. I love to write, not speak. Often, my mind delivers a total blank. I avoid large groups because I am hearing-impaired. But the leaders in my church don't jump on just any warm body to do a job. After prayer, they are sure that they have found the right person for the job, and I trust their discernment.

In preparing for the Bible classes, to make it easier on myself, I went to a huge amount of trouble reading the leader's books and researching God's Word to formulate suitable questions. I loved the research, but I disliked the classes. Wanting to avoid all eyes on me, I simply showed a video, divided the class into smaller groups, and handed out the Scripture-based questions to search and discuss. All I did was sit in, but I always felt relieved at the end of class.

Another reason that I resisted leading Bible classes is that they were in the evening, and I don't like driving at night. When our second vehicle died, we decided not to replace it, and I prayed for a ministry at home. Immediately, two opportunities arose: writing devotionals and marking Bible studies to encourage prisoners.

Despite knowing that I was in God's perfect will in carrying out my new tasks, I felt guilty for giving up the other. False guilt really complicates life! Then God showed me:

Matthew 25:21b – You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. (NIV)

Had I not studied God's Word in order to prepare for Bible classes, I couldn't have been part of writing ministries that reach many more. But even as I moved on, I was looking back. Once again, God showed me:

Luke 9:62 – No one who puts his hand to the plough and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God. (NIV)

Recently, I spent several months training for an online ministry, but when I graduated, the door closed because I couldn't honestly sign the contract. Still, I knew that God had a reason. Sure enough, a few days later, my prison ministry offered me the opportunity of using my discipleship training with one long-term prisoner, working all the way through a single course, instead of answering a different prisoner and lesson each time.

God has a plan, but He doesn't reveal it to us all at once. He requires trust and obedience. We may not like the chapter that we are currently in, but it is necessary before we can move forward. To complete the story, we must delve into the next chapter wholeheartedly.

Prayer: Father, give us the courage to step out in faith and not to look back. Help us to trust You when we don't understand. Help us to embrace the future as it arrives, and to use our story to bring others to You. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Colossians 1:13 – For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son. (NLT)

Our pastor designed a diagram easily understood by the congregation. It often appeared on the screen as he preached. There were some who rolled their eyes and muttered, "Not the circles again!" But most of us grinned and settled down for another lesson from God's Word. "The circles" was so popular that we had it printed on T-shirts when he retired. I'd like to share that diagram with you.

There are two large circles side by side, slightly overlapping in the centre. The circle on the left represents the world that we live in, the kingdom of darkness, presently under the rule of Satan. This world is broken and separated from God, and the people are self-centred.

The circle on the right is God's kingdom of light. This kingdom is God-centred, perfect, His people made whole. The diagram shows that the lives of those in God's kingdom revolve around Him and also look to each other, loving and serving both God and others. The circles overlap because Christians must live in this world, though we belong in the kingdom of God — our real home.

The differences between the circles are as clear as night and day or black and white. In fact, we can make two lists of opposing words beneath the diagram:

Below the circles is an arrow leading from the world, through a cross, to God, indicating that the only way to reach God's kingdom from the kingdom of darkness is via Jesus and the cross.

John 14:6 – Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (NIV)

We can choose only one side or the other. Which do you choose? Keeping God's commands out of love and gratitude for Jesus' sacrifice for our sins frees us from this cruel world, fills us with the Holy Spirit, and sets us firmly in God's kingdom, now and for eternity.

Deuteronomy 30:19b – I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life. (NIV)

Prayer: Heavenly Father, help us to choose wisely, to choose Your everlasting life and love. Forgive our sins, and set our feet on the right path. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

My son texted me a video of my little granddaughter at the rink. Last year, she was able to walk on her skates around the side of the rink by herself, but within touching distance of the boards. This year, she couldn't wait to set out directly across the rink, with nothing to hold onto if she fell.

Her mother and little sisters crowded in the opposite entrance to watch and cheer my granddaughter on. Head up, arms swinging, she set out. On the video, I could hear her skates on the ice. Scrape, scrape … One of her brothers sped by with a word of encouragement. She was not to be distracted. Her steps didn't falter. Determined, she kept going.

Scrape, scrape … Almost there. But my little granddaughter was growing tired. Now, her head was down, her arms beginning to flail. I held my breath as I watched. At the last moment, she cried out "Daddy, Daddy!"

The video jumped, and I realized, of course, that my son had been right beside her the whole time with his camera. Unseen, he was within grabbing distance if she fell.

But she made it! At the end of her strength, she reached out for the boards at the side of the rink and touched them. I heard my son shout, "You did it!" as her sisters jumped up and down, wild with excitement.

The video came to an abrupt end. What determination! I was so proud of her!

Hebrews 12:1-3 – Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us … run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus … so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. (NIV)

The apostle Paul likens our life's journey to a race. He encourages us to persevere and stay the course by keeping our eyes firmly fixed on our Saviour, Jesus. If we concentrate on Him, we won't be distracted, tire, or lose hope. And Paul tells us that there are those who are watching, cheering us on.

Hebrews 13:5b – God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." (NIV)

God is always with us. Unseen, He is right beside us all the way. We can step out; we are never alone. All we have to do is cry out "Abba! Daddy!"

Prayer: Abba, we are Your children, adopted into Your family. Thank You for encouraging and comforting us, and for never leaving our side. Help us to keep our eyes firmly fixed on You to the end. Amen.

On other trips, our senses were assaulted by flashing neon lights and the ear-splitting noise of honking taxis. This time, a quiet sombreness pervaded the crowded city. We could smell smoke before we arrived. Grey ashes covered sidewalks, roofs, and grass. We were not prepared for the emotional scene of so many photographs of missing persons. The chain-link fence erected around Ground Zero was plastered with cards, flowers, and candles. We saw an ash-coated bicycle chained by the road, its owner never to return.

As we neared the site of devastation, pedestrians became so quiet that footsteps were all that could be heard. Along with hundreds of others, we surveyed the scene in shocked silence. A young boy had climbed a post for a better view. Cameras were passed up to him. Without a word, he snapped a picture and passed them back down. It was a strange thing in a city where one would normally hesitate to hand their camera to a stranger.

When we moved away, a fire truck came along, hosing the roads. The men hung off the side, looking exhausted. In a surreal moment, people stopped to clap. A few voices called out thanks. Some of the fire fighters waved or smiled, but it was obvious that they had nothing left to give.

Isaiah 9:10 – The bricks have fallen, but we will rebuild with cut stones; the sycamores have been cut down, but we will replace them with cedars. (HCSB)

In his bestseller, The Harbinger, Rabbi Jonathan Cahn points out that shortly after 9/11, a stone was cut from mountains to create a symbolic cornerstone of the rebuilding, just as Isaiah prophesied centuries before. Political leaders made speeches, unintentionally using the very words of the prophet. The words of judgement on Israel, a nation in spiritual decline, were used in defiance by Americans waging war on terror: We will rebuild.

Cedars were planted to replace a fallen sycamore tree that had been standing outside St. Paul's Chapel, shielding it from harm. In 1789, on the day of his inauguration, George Washington, America's first president, led the Senate to St. Paul's and dedicated the country to God. St. Paul's owned the field where the World Trade Centre was built. Ground Zero is the site of America's consecration.

The attack on the United States was a warning. God's warnings awaken and save us, rather than condemn us. Like birth pains, they become stronger and more frequent. Attempting to build anything in our own strength, whether it be a house, family, business, church, tower, or even a nation, is not the answer. Let us be wise and build on the Word of God, our rock and our salvation.

Psalm 62:2 – He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken. (NIV)

Matthew 7:25 – The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. (NIV)

Prayer: Almighty God, You call us to be watchmen like Isaiah. Shake and awaken us, that we may submit to You, worship You with reverence, and build our house upon the Rock. Amen.

This was my Scripture on the day when we flew to England this spring. It was very encouraging! Our plan was to visit several places, but not to rely on family — separated by considerable distances — to drive us.

The plan included staying with them, plus three hotels, car rental, trains, underground trains, and a bus trip. Booking tickets online was confusing; we often stopped to pray. After days spent on the computer, we decided that we had done all that we could. Then came a travel advisory warning Canadians not to visit London because of Brexit protests. This was very daunting. We put ourselves in God's hands.

Proverbs 3:5 – Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. (NIV)

Our eight-and-a half-hour overnight flight landed a half-hour late. We navigated a shuttle, the train, and then the tube (subway system) into London. The Northern train left from Kings Cross station. Somehow, in the myriad of tunnels beneath the city, we surfaced at Euston station. Our plan was beginning to unravel. We could take the tube back; instead, despite being tired, we opted for a walk "just down the road". Carrying luggage, it seemed a long way, but the sun was shining, and there were blossoms on the trees — we had left snow behind in Canada!

Back at Kings Cross, we searched the signboards. Our train was coming in at Nth platform. We saw platforms with numbers but no letters. An amused employee informed us that Nth means North! Feeling stupid, tired, hungry, and dirty, we fell into the train and prayed that it would take us where we had planned.

Reaching the Midlands, we located the car rental office, and were assured that the car had automatic transmission. Almost sleepwalking by this time, we heaved our bags outside. We blinked. A Mercedes Benz?! God was surely smiling down on us.

We set off in high spirits. Minutes later, we were completely lost. We had directions, but couldn't see the road signs. Traffic was on the left. Our tempers frayed. I cried out to God. Then, I noticed the GPS system. For the next week Sat-Nav was our best friend.

Later, in London, we wanted to sight-see without our bags. Prayer resulted in discovering that Left Luggage does not mean Lost Luggage! Laughing at ourselves, we planned to ride an open double-decker bus. The roads were completely blocked by protestors. God had come through so far; He would again. The ticket collector suggested a boat on the River Thames. It was a highlight of our trip.

God's plan was better than ours. He foresaw all the hiccups. Our vacation was a huge success. We were assured that God was with us and in control the whole time. The Bible tells us that God has plans for us, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future" (Jeremiah 29:11b NIV). All we have to do is to call on Him.

Prayer: Father, when we run to You, You listen. Help us to give all our hopes and plans over to You. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

I walked down the road to visit a neighbour, but she was not home. As I turned to leave, the young woman next door hurried towards me, visibly upset. She was carrying her two-week-old premature baby. She had left her four-year-old son to go in for the baby, and the boy had disappeared.

My heart sank as I surveyed the acres of dense bush behind the yards. Across the road, new houses were under construction, and behind them, a creek. At one end of the short road is a busy highway; at the other a river, with a dam and a waterfall — so many dangers for a little boy!

He was not hiding; their dog was gone as well. After a few minutes' search, shouting the boy's name, I asked the construction workers to call the police.

They quickly arrived. I held the tiny baby as the mom spoke to them. A sniffer dog and its handler plunged into the bush while patrol cars and officers searched the roads. Soon, a helicopter buzzed overhead. Our local radio station made an announcement. The police report stated that the area was "saturated".

An hour and a half passed. A small crowd gathered. The sky darkened and a strong wind whipped up dust from the driveway — a summer storm was coming. The baby seemed content as I sheltered his head with my arm. The young mother sobbed. I hugged her with my free arm and prayed softly, Father in heaven, You know where he is. Lead them to him. Keep him safe.

Radios crackled. An officer informed us that a boy had been spotted on River Road. Patrol cars headed in that direction. Long minutes passed. The mother's eyes were glued to the end of her driveway. Then, the bystanders parted to allow two police cars in. A cheer erupted. A dog jumped out of one car and turned circles with excitement. From the other, a little boy emerged, with bare feet and no shirt, just a pair of shorts, his hair sticking up, and a bemused smile on his dirty face.

He had wanted to go to the park. Just home from hospital, his mom had said "No." He grinned shyly as he looked around at everyone smiling at him. Confused, he did not fully understand whether he had done something wrong. An officer attempted to give him a kindly lecture, but his mom kissed him and wrapped her arms tightly around him.

The police left; the crowd dispersed. I handed back the baby. When I arrived home, I began to shake. I had been so scared. Thank God that little boy was safe!

Then, I realized that this is how much God loves us. No matter what we've done or how far we've wandered, He waits and watches and wraps His arms around us when we return. If you've lost your way, don't be afraid to come back. He loves you!

Prayer: Father, thank You for loving us. Thank You for forgiving our sins. Thank You for welcoming us home and rejoicing in our return. Amen.

The car was glistening and dripping from a wash and looked beautiful. Not knowing much about cars, my only stipulation was that it was not to have leather seats. When I looked in the window, I saw that the seats were fabric-covered. But what was this? Seven seats?

We turned inquiring eyes to the salesman. "For your grandkids!" he grinned. Our son has six children. This car would suit him perfectly. I knew what my husband was thinking. Too big for us — but our son might want to borrow it!

The dealer had a 2017 SUV at a slightly higher price. We immediately turned away from the 2014 model. The newer vehicle was at the other location, but surely it was the better deal. It was a nice day for a drive, so we set off.

Along the way, this verse flashed into my mind:

Isaiah 55:8 – "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the Lord. (NIV)

I immediately disregarded the fleeting thought that since God often does things the opposite way from the world, the 2014 model could actually be the one that He wanted for us. It didn't make sense to me.

Half an hour later, we stood gazing at a car that was obviously too small for our needs. We take a lot of equipment to our cabin in summer. This car was not for us. Much chagrined, we returned to Belleville, thinking how nice it would be to be able to lend the bigger car to our son if he needed it.

A further examination of the 2014 model proved that it was perfect for us. The back seats fold down flat. It was in great condition, and we are that much richer because it didn't cost as much. God has blessed us.

A few days later, we were asked to pick up our grandchildren from school. They piled in with backpacks, snow pants, and lunch pails. We were so glad that we had plenty of room!

Proverbs 3:5-6 – Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. (NIV)

Our best course of action when making a decision is always to ask, "WWJD?" — What Would Jesus Do? Jesus turned to Scripture and was in constant communication with God. There is an enemy out there waiting to take us down. We need to be constantly on our guard, and make decisions according to God's will, not our own.

Prayer: Father, help us to look for Your perspective in all matters. Teach us how to listen for Your voice, to trust You, and to know without a doubt that we are doing Your divine will. Amen.